Montana

Montana silversmith finds joy in teaching others

Published

1 year ago

October 21, 2024

BILLINGS — Sweet Pea Custom Silver hosted a beginner silversmithing class at Mazevo Coffee on 38th Street West on Sunday. Watch:

Montana silversmith finds joy in teaching others

“Jewelry is very intimate, especially rings,” said Meagan Anderson, owner of Sweet Pea. “Our hands are just, probably, the more intimate parts of our bodies.”

One of the students in the class, Sara Champlin, said that jewelry, such as her fiance’s birthstone in her wedding band or a ring from her parents for her eighteenth birthday, represent the things that matter most to them.

“Having something precious, it makes you feel special, I think, and cared for or loved,” said Champlin.

Originally from Kodiak Island in Alaska, Meagan now calls Judith Basin County her home.

She began silversmithing with her grandmother after following hand-written instructions on how to make a ring left behind by her great-grandfather, who passed away before she was born.

Before working with semi-rare stones and metals, Anderson worked with her hands for most of her life.

“I started working for my dad’s construction company at about 12. Then commercial fishing at 16; (I) dropped out of high school a couple times,” said Anderson. “It still is funny to me that I’ve gone back and got a college degree.”

She said she finds more value in the sentiment behind jewelry, than a piece’s monetary value.

“You can’t tell the difference between a diamond and piece of glass unless you’re a professional,” she noted, adding that she likely could not tell the difference between the two.

Meagan said she appreciates the personal value on display when others dress themselves in jewelry.

“They’re taking time out of their day to adorn themself, probably not for other people’s enjoyment, but for their own, and I think that that’s super precious,” said Anderson.

Meagan hosts classes for groups and individuals, and also sells her jewely at craft shows around Montana.

For upcoming classes and to learn more, click here to visit her website; click here for her Facebook page.

MTN News

Meagan Anderson, Sweet Pea Custom Silver

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Montana

University of Montana introduces Bobby Kennedy as new head coach

Published

7 hours ago

February 5, 2026

Press Room

University of Montana introduces Bobby Kennedy as new head coach

The University of Montana has announced Bobby Kennedy as its 38th head coach, following the retirement of Bobby Hauck.

Athletic Director Kent Haslam introduced Kennedy at a press conference attended by a majority of the Montana Grizzlies team, who filled the Canyon Club to show their support.

Kennedy expressed gratitude to Hauck, with whom he had been living since August when he got to Missoula to coach Montana’s Wide Receivers, and emphasized his commitment to recruiting top talent across Montana, which has been an area for concern amongst Griz fans after the Bobcats have taken the majority of the top 10 players coming out of Montana the past few years..

“Trust me when I say this. We are going to recruit Montana,” Kennedy said. “It’s a priority for us to recruit the good players in this state and to be in every school and to have UM represented.”

Kennedy, who is taking on his first head coaching role, shared his enthusiasm and noted that he anticipates this being his final coaching job. He also plans to maintain the culture established by Hauck and intends to hire a special teams coach following Hauck’s departure.

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Kennedy’s high-energy approach is expected to be beneficial as Montana’s transfer portal opens soon. “I don’t know if you can tell but I am jacked. I am jacked. And I am ready,” he said. Kennedy will have to shift his attention to Montana’s tranfer portal opening later this week for a 15 day period and then continue winter conditioning before Spring football starts up again in April.

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Montana

Artists invited to enter 2026 Montana migratory bird stamp contest

Published

19 hours ago

February 5, 2026

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Artists invited to enter 2026 Montana migratory bird stamp contest

MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is reminding artists and bird enthusiasts that there is still time to enter the 2026 Montana Migratory Bird Stamp contest.

Submissions are open through Feb. 27, and this year’s contest has expanded to include waterbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl and wetland-dependent passerines depicted in their natural Montana habitat. The winning artist will receive a $2,000 cash prize, and the selected artwork will be featured on Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks promotional materials throughout 2026.

While the Montana Migratory Bird Stamp is not required for hunting, officials say proceeds from stamp sales help support wetland conservation efforts across the state. Each stamp purchase also includes a free collectible sticker sheet featuring the winning design.

Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials say the contest is intended to highlight the importance of wetlands and their role in Montana’s ecosystem.

More information about the contest, entry guidelines and stamp purchases is available on the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website.

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Montana

Brickner leads Idaho against Montana State

Published

2 days ago

February 4, 2026

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Brickner leads Idaho against Montana State

Idaho Vandals (13-9, 5-4 Big Sky) at Montana State Bobcats (13-10, 7-3 Big Sky)

Bozeman, Montana; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Idaho plays Montana State after Isaiah Brickner scored 31 points in Idaho’s 79-62 win against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks.

The Bobcats have gone 8-1 in home games. Montana State ranks second in the Big Sky at limiting opponent scoring, giving up 70.9 points while holding opponents to 44.4% shooting.

The Vandals are 5-4 in Big Sky play. Idaho is seventh in the Big Sky with 13.2 assists per game led by Kolton Mitchell averaging 3.7.

Montana State makes 46.3% of its shots from the field this season, which is 2.6 percentage points higher than Idaho has allowed to its opponents (43.7%). Idaho has shot at a 45.2% clip from the field this season, 0.8 percentage points above the 44.4% shooting opponents of Montana State have averaged.

The Bobcats and Vandals meet Thursday for the first time in Big Sky play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jed Miller is averaging 14.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals for the Bobcats. Christian King is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Mitchell is shooting 38.2% from beyond the arc with 2.5 made 3-pointers per game for the Vandals, while averaging 14.1 points and 3.7 assists. Biko Johnson is averaging 14.8 points over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bobcats: 7-3, averaging 77.1 points, 30.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 6.7 steals and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.0 points per game.

Vandals: 5-5, averaging 76.9 points, 30.6 rebounds, 10.1 assists, 6.5 steals and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.4 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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